“Jamie's been spotted, huh?” Eva scoffed, her eyes dancing with a mocking light. “You guys are starting to sound like a bunch of ghost hunters, honestly.”Edna glared at her, her lips thinning into a defiant line. “Don't you dare brush this off like I'm seeing things.”Paul stood stoically beside Andrei as he directed the course of action. ”I need the CCTV footage ensure that's on my desk within 24 hours. And while you're at it, ramp up security around the property. We can't have any more surprises." Paul nods silently, then exited the living room where we all gathered. “I'm telling you, I saw her.” Edna's certainty was almost… tangible, “It was Jamie. That champagne blonde hair and those piercing gray eyes—I'd know her anywhere.”The image of that blonde, gray-eyed woman from the hospital flashed through my mind. Could she be Jamie?“I believe you, Edna,” Helen stated, “Andrei needs to get a handle on this Jamie situation. One maniac is more than enough to deal with; we don't need
“You're the one bright spot in this whole mess, Brielle. The only good thing Eva has done is bringing you into our lives. That's the one thing she's managed to get right, and I've got to give her props for that, even if everything else she does is a straight-up train wreck.” Edna’s dropping some serious cliffhangers, and I’m dying to know more. But that woman's's busier than a squirrel in October, so I haven’t had a chance to pick her brain about Eva," I think to myself. How did Eva even manage to bring me into the picture? *** “Talk about a vibe shift,” I mutter, watching Liam’s return instantly change the atmosphere. The Carter brothers are acting like there's an invisible wall between them, no jokes or nothing, Andrei's all serious, looking at Liam like he's a last-minute tax bill. I’m in Andrei’s room, but I feel like I’m at the wrong family reunion. It’s like a wrestling match of nerves in here, and I’m just trying to dodge the flying elbows and make it out alive. I’d rat
The sight of Edna, with tears streaming down her face and a paper towel held to her eyes, was truly heartbreaking. Clearly, Helen's departure affected her the most out of everyone present. “Why worry now? Brielle's got it all under control,” Helen coolly proclaimed, “Andrei's in good hands. No reason for anyone to fret. No need at all. My girl's got the situation handled.” “I thought you weren't leaving until Jane has her baby.” “Now, Edna, don’t get yourself worked up. My daughter is about to deliver, you know that. She needs me by her side." “I thought we still had about three more months until Jane's due date.” "A pregnancy lasts nine months, Edna, not twelve." Edna gave a small, embarrassed laugh, “I know that, of course.” Helen smiles sweetly at me; “You’re a godsend, Brielle. Who would’ve thought Eva’s selfishness would bring someone like you into our lives? I would’ve laughed in their face. But here you are. It’s amazing how life can throw you a curveball and still l
My mind's working overtime, replaying Eva’s words on a loop. Baby? Hurt the baby?Is this woman seriously pregnant?***After tossing and turning for the tenth time in the last half-hour. I spotted a silhouette of Andrei seated in his wheelchair.“Nightmares again?” I asked him, concerned. “Not sure having your ex-girlfriend as your doctor’s gonna do much to calm those down.”Sliding off the bed, I reached for my slippers. “You get comfy in bed, and I’ll whip up some tea. Edna swears it’ll do the trick. And who knows? Maybe it’ll calm you down. You could use it."“Have you dug through those company files yet?” Andrei asks.“It’s a lot to process. I haven’t cracked the code yet.” With his nightmares keeping him up, the least he could do was take a break from that business brain of his.I headed out to make the tea, the night’s darkness enveloping me. And despite the lack of evidence, I felt eyes on me, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. I remembered the last time I’d had
Andrei's face softens, and he cracks open his mouth, like he's on the verge of jumping on my offer. It's clear as day that he's tempted.And just like that, the door bursts open. In strolls Eva, tray of meds in hand, looking at her watch “It’s time, Andrei. Time for your meds.” “Andrei will not be taking any of those.” Andrei looks at me like he can’t believe I’m standing up to his doctor like this. But I keep my eyes locked on Eva, letting her know I'm dead serious.She lets out a haughty scoff, like I'm some kind of clown trying to pull a fast one on her. “You? Really? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do with my patient?”“It don't matter what you're trying to sell me. Drey isn't swallowing those pills, period.”“He needs his medications.”“You can all 'em 'meds', 'medications', or even 'candy' for all I care, Eva. So save yourself the trouble and walk away.”Eva gives me a cold, assessing glance before turning her attention to Andrei. “Drey, kindly dispatch this contract
“Are you seriously going to stand here and spew lies in my face, Eva?”“Lies? How can we be certain that you didn't simply neglect the meat, wandering away from the stove and causing this disaster yourself, Brielle? Your lack of proper attire, the absence of an apron, certainly supports this theory."I grit my teeth.“Just admit it already. Admit that you're the one to blame for this mess, 'cause You likely abandoned the stove to engage in mindless gossip with Ivy about some pathetic suitor she's trying to foist upon you, and that's when the fire erupted. And Sanjay?”Eva lets out a barking laugh, the sound harsh and mocking. “Seriously, Brielle? That's the best you can come up with? Pathetic.”My hands clenched into fists at my sides. I'm white-knuckling it, trying to stop myself from reaching out and grabbing that bitch's hair right here and now. “I never said a word about Sanjay. That just proves you're making shit up, Eva.”“Did you leave the kitchen to answer a phone call, Briel
My mouth's gone dry, and I'm trying to swallow down the shock… “Andrei… That's that is not what I meant.”Andrei looks away, and I catch a glimpse of what might be sadness or disappointment. Or maybe it's something else entirely — I'm like, damn it, Brielle.You hit a nerve or something and everything goes… sideways.“You would have been the first person I've opened up to in such a way since Anna was taken from me.”Andrei says, and there's something in his voice that's just so raw and real. It's like he's laying himself bare for me, and I'm not sure how to handle that. Don't wanna push him too hard, but I feel like we're connecting on a deeper level, and I don't wanna break that. I'm also trying not to trip over the fact that Andrei low-key admitted he wanted to get it on with me. No need to obsess over it, Bri. Just let it slide right on by. “Edna told me about Anna. You really loved her, didn't you?” I say, locking eyes with him. He nods. “Anna. She was my everything, my reason
Andrei's voice buzzed in my ear, rambling on about the business dealings, all sorts of stuff that was way too much to handle at once. Suddenly, I notice that the truck has disappeared. I realize that it is important for Andrei to know about the truck. It is the same one that was present at the scene of his accident.I gathered my belongings, ready to call it a day when it hit me: Where the heck are my keys?Confusion momentarily set in, until I recalled that Paul had picked up my car earlier.I hurried out of the office. My eyes landed on Paul, standing by the entrance with a cordial smile. He greeted me with a courteous nod and placed the keys in my hand.As I slipped into the driver's seat, the vibrant hues of yellow and black seemed to wink at me, like I was a superstar fresh off the catwalk, rather than a frazzled executive racing against time. Instantly a memory nudged its way into my consciousness, and I cursed under my breath. I had completely forgotten about my promise to
Andrei's POV. I'm heading towards my car at a rapid pace, my mind consumed by thoughts of what could be happening. But when I try to call Paul, I'm met with an annoying busy signal. I hear Helen's frantic voice behind me, but I don't have time to reassure her. I rip open the driver's door and dive into the seat. My key jams into the ignition, and I crank the engine to life. Taking a moment to collect myself, I turn to Helen… “Keep Alexis indoors, lock every door, every window. Don't open them for anyone. Not a neighbor, not a delivery guy, not even a cop. No one. You're the only one I trust to keep him safe. I'll be back as soon as I can." Helen's subtle nod is enough. I floor it, racing away from the Carter estate. It's Jeremy. I'm certain of it. He's the only one twisted enough to pull a stunt like this. I slam the pedal to the floor, racing towards Brielle's apartment with a gut full of rage. What's his twisted motive for snatching her because I know it's him – the sick
Andrei's POV “I need you to wrap things up, Paul. Adjourn the meeting until tomorrow evening. I'm slammed right now. Get out of the office and go pick up Brielle — it's almost 7 pm,” I tell him over the phone, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. This guy can be a bit of a space cadet sometimes. I swear, I told him to leave the office early and pick Brielle up on time. What's going through that head of his? He's still rambling on, saying something about how he thought I was going to pick up Brielle myself. But honestly, I don't have time for this conversation. I'm not in the mood to argue, and even on a normal day, I wouldn't hesitate to debate him until I proved my point. I suck in a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill my lungs. The scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers is nice and all, but I'm not exactly here to stop and smell the roses. My mind's preoccupied with one person: Brielle. The woman who's been on my mind 24/7, and who I'm about to put
Brielle's POV I take a deep breath, my heart still racing, but he looks more concerned than angry. He calmly rolls up his sleeves, slip off his shoes and pads silently over to the window. He pushes it open, and a rush of cool air sweeps in, carrying the scent of the night with it. I breathe deeply, feeling the freshness fill my lungs, and suddenly, I'm alive again. Returning, he takes my hand gently, his fingers locking into place with a tender yet thrilling pressure. My heart begins to flutter, and a wave of excitement washes over me as he escorts me to the bathroom. He towers over me, his eyes locked on mine, and carefully begins to unbutton my T-shirt. He slips the shirt off my body, his fingers grazing my skin, and tosses it aside, Warmth spread through my core, settling in the sensitive area between my legs. My heartbeat quickens, and my veins thrum with anticipation, He selects a plush towel from the heated rail, dips it in warm water, and gently wrings it out. The sof
Brielle's POV Just as I'm about to toss back another shot, he swoops in and snatches the glass right out of my hand. I'm caught off guard, and my eyes widen in surprise. I'm left standing there, feeling a little silly and a lot relieved… “I believe we've concluded our meeting. Now, how about I make sure you get home safely?” I wave my hand dramatically, nearly losing my balance. “Oh no, no, no! The meeting's just getting to the good part.” I declare, my words slurring slightly. I point a wobbly finger at him. He's still gazing at me with an infuriatingly calm expression. Meanwhile, I'm over here, dying from embarrassment and struggling to stay upright as the room spins like a crazy top., I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a map to find my dignity tomorrow morning… I push myself up from the bar stool, but my legs have other plans. I stumble, and my face heats up with embarrassment. Note to self: being bold and fearless is way easier in theory. Right now, my main priority is no
Brielle's POV. Aurum - where the rich and powerful come to eat like kings and queens while pretending to discuss business. I've heard the food is divine, the service impeccable, and the ambiance… well, let's just say it's the perfect place to make a statement. Or, in my case, to lure out a certain elusive CEO. The exterior is sleek and modern, all glass and steel, while the interior is warm and inviting, with rich wood accents and crisp white linens. My heart's racing, and I'm obsessively checking the clock. II've been flirting with a staff employee to get a rise out of my boss don't judge me, it was a desperate plan and now the moment of truth is finally here. Will my mystery boss step out of the shadows and reveal his face? And, more importantly, will he be the ridiculously handsome and infuriating Andrei Carter? I'm 99.9% sure it's him… Only Andrei could throw me under the bus like that, and I just can't fathom why he's been hiding. I'm bursting to see him, to fi
Brielle's POV I'm deep in thought, pondering the mystery that is Jeremy, when the speakers starts blaring and scares the daylights out of me, “Aren't you going to get down to work? Or are you just going to continue perfecting the art of doing nothing.” Okay, Mr. Carter, I think it's time to level up from 'Mysterious Voice' to 'Actual Human Being'. With renewed interest, I sit up straight. “Sir, I'd appreciate the opportunity to meet you face-to-face. Is that something we could arrange?” “A meeting in person is… not possible, Brielle. At least, not at this time. Let's just say that my… situation requires a certain level of discretion. But I assure you, our working relationship will continue to be… productive." “Of course, I can respect your desire for anonymity. But, if you don't mind me asking, what's the harm in a simple introduction? I'm curious to see if the rest of you lives up to the charm of your voice.” “Really?” he says, his tone as neutral, but with a hint of mischi
Brielle's POV Ivy rubs her fingers on her temple, “I swear, Brielle, you're going to give me gray hairs. What were you thinking, not telling me about… Not telling me about everything?!” I shoot her a frantic glance, willing her to keep quiet. But it's too late. Mom's already descending the staircase, a curious expression on her face. “What's going on? You two look like you're sharing a state secret,” Seriously, Mom? Now? “It's really nothing. Ivy and I were just talking about, you know, stuff.” I wave my hands dismissively, hoping Mom will drop it, but she's not buying it." “Stuff?” she echoes, arching an eyebrow skeptically, “Well, 'stuff' seems to have gotten you two pretty worked up. Care to share what's got you so whisper-happy? Wait a minute, Brielle,” Mom eyes narrow as she notices my outfit. “Aren't those the clothes you wore to work today? What have you two been up to that you haven't even had time to change?” I shift uncomfortably, trying to find a way to explain wi
Brielle's POV It's another Monday, and time seems to have gone into overdrive. It's as if someone hit the fast-forward button on my life, and I'm racing through days at breakneck speed. I step out of the car, my eyes adjusting to the bright morning light, when suddenly, I'm met with a sight so surreal that I rub my eyes, convinced I'm still dreaming. There, emblazoned across the glass walls of CCI, is a vivid, technicolor rendition of the portrait of me. It's me, frozen in time, my features heightened by the vivid pigments splashed across the canvas. My jaw drops in shock as I stare, mesmerized, at the larger-than-life image of myself. Stunned, I take a few hesitant steps towards the building, my heart thudding against my chest. It's like déjà vu all over again, except this time, the portrait is staring back at me with an intensity that makes me want to shrink back into the shadows. Once inside the lobby of the office building I find myself scrutinizing the faces of those
Brielle's POV The doorbell's shrill ring cuts through the silence of the house, and Mom pops her head out of the kitchen. “Brielle, can you get the door please?” I'm right in the middle of crushing this project. My fingers grip the mouse like it's a lifeline, but I know I'm beat. Mom's expectant gaze is practically burning a hole through the wall. With a dramatic sigh, I push my chair back, and trudge towards the door. Whoever is on the other side better be worth it. The doorbell rings again, and I'm already halfway to the door. “Brielle!” “Got it, Mom!” I holler back, trying to save her the trouble of wiping her flour-covered hands on her apron. She's been cooking up a storm in the kitchen all morning, and I've been busy with work. I swing open the door, and my eyes land on a gentle-looking man standing on our porch. He's dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark jeans, and his warm smile puts me at ease. But what really catches my attention is the bouquet of sunflowers in hi